Larrouy / Dufour - Le Révolté - Unique Copy, 225 Original Drawings - 1928

Paris, René Kieffer, 1928. Folio (332 x 265 mm), 1 leaf + 228 pp + 2 leaves + 8 plates + 149 plates, wine-colored morocco, smooth spine tooled in blind with "EXEMPLAIRE UNIQUE" at foot, blind-stamped plate decoration on boards, blind-tooled inner frames, marbled endpapers and flyleaves, gilt top edge, lined case (binding signed RENÉ KIEFFER on upper pastedown with his stamped label).

UNIQUE COPY: In October 1928, René Kieffer published an edition of Le Révolté illustrated with watercolors by Charles Fouqueray. This unique copy, printed on white laid vellum like all copies but without Fouqueray's illustrations, presents instead a complete alternative illustration by Émilien Dufour.

225 original drawings including:
- 1 alternative cover design, original watercolor signed "E Dufour" with manuscript note "aquarelles originales de Emilien Dufour"
- 67 original watercolors in-text (45 signed "ED", final tailpiece signed E. Dufour)
- 8 original watercolors hors-texte (3 repeating original illustration facing, 5 signed "ED")
- 149 preparatory watercolor sketches

Editorial mystery: When and under what circumstances this project was realized remains unknown. Had Kieffer first commissioned Dufour before choosing Charles Fouqueray? The latter was already named as illustrator in 1926 (Sanjuan pp. 59-60).

Associated documents: Autograph letter signed from Dufour to Kieffer (exhibition of 50 of his watercolors) and signed autograph postcard concerning his illustration of Balzac's complete works.

Decorated binding: stylized screaming profile against concentric circles background.

Illustrator: Émilien-Léon-Jean Dufour (Paris, 1894 - Briançon, 1975), painter and engraver. Exhibitions at Salon des Tuileries (from 1932) and Salon d'Automne (member). Work for press and publishing. For Kieffer: Trois contes d'Edgar Poe (1927), La vieille fille by Balzac (1931), suite of 40 etchings for Balzac's complete works (1932). Unrealized project: La cousine Bette (1934, Sanjuan p. 215).

Reference: Sanjuan pp. 59-60, 215.